Concerning the payment of the expenses of the legislative department.
HB26-1333 is the annual appropriations measure for the Colorado legislative department for the 2026-27 state fiscal year. It allocates a total of $75,719,843, primarily from the general fund, to support the operations of the General Assembly, the Office of the State Auditor, the Joint Budget Committee, the Legislative Council, the Committee on Legal Services, and PERA-related employer contribution adjustments. The bill also includes a separate $50,000 general fund appropriation to the Youth Advisory Council cash fund.
In addition to setting new spending levels, the bill makes a technical amendment to the prior year’s legislative department appropriation act. It adds language allowing $30,000 from the 2025-26 Legislative Council appropriation to carry forward into 2026-27 if unspent, for new legislator orientation and official functions. The bill also notes, for informational purposes, that the civil actions tax levy is expected to return about $203,077 to the general fund to help offset statute revision expenses.
The bill’s impact on state law is limited to budgetary and appropriation changes rather than substantive policy changes. It updates the annual operating budget for the legislative branch, authorizes spending by specific legislative entities, and amends a prior appropriations section in the 2025 session laws. It does not create new regulatory programs or alter the duties of most state agencies, but it does affect how the legislature itself is funded and administered.
The general sentiment around the bill appears routine and favorable, consistent with a standard must-pass appropriations measure. The bill ultimately passed and was signed by the Governor, and there is no record here of committee controversy, recorded opposition, or floor debate. Because it funds the legislature’s own operations, it is typically treated as a necessary support bill rather than a policy vehicle.
There is little visible contention in the available materials. The main points that could draw attention are the size of the legislative department appropriation, the allocation among legislative entities, and the carryforward of funds for legislator orientation and official functions. However, no specific objections, amendments in dispute, or partisan disagreements are reflected in the provided transcript or voting history.
This bill appropriates $75,719,843 for the Colorado legislative department for FY 2026-27 and makes a technical amendment to the prior year’s legislative appropriations act. It affects funding for the General Assembly, State Auditor, Joint Budget Committee, Legislative Council, Committee on Legal Services, PERA-related contributions, and the Youth Advisory Council cash fund, but does not materially change substantive state law outside the budget statutes and session-law appropriations.
The available record suggests broad, routine support for the bill. It is a standard annual appropriations measure for the legislative branch, it moved through the appropriations process, and it was ultimately signed by the Governor. No committee testimony, recorded votes, or public debate in the provided materials indicate significant opposition or controversy.
No specific contention is documented in the provided materials. The only potentially debatable issues are the overall size of the legislative department budget, the distribution of funds among legislative offices, and the $30,000 carryforward for new legislator orientation and official functions. However, there is no evidence here of organized opposition or a disputed amendment.